Will the Oscar winning screenwriter of Traffic direct Denzel Washington and Brad Pitt in a crime thriller called Candy Store?

Stephen Gaghan has written an Oscar winning screenplay (TRAFFIC), an action-adventure science fiction screenplay (AFTER EARTH), and successfully written and directed a tight political thriller (SYRIANA). Sure, he may have made a few mistakes (THE ALAMO), but so has everyone in the course of their career.

And if his next project comes together as the universe is teasing it will, then we’re going to be in for one very interesting time indeed.  CANDY STORE was written and will be directed by Gaghan, and concerns “is described as a ‘two-hander’ crime thriller with meaty roles for the two main characters. A highly trained deep-cover operative starts his life over in Brooklyn as a beat cop only to discover the global organization he was dedicated to fighting also is operating in his new backyard.”  Talks have commenced with Brad Pitt and Denzel Washington for the two main roles, and while they’re in a very early stage the mere fact that these actors are interested and some sort of talks are actually happening speaks highly to the true “meatiness” of the script.

That being said, Pitt is a busy guy who has also stated that he only foresees about three more years of movie making in his future.  Conversely, Washington is an equally busy guy who shows no sign of letting up anytime soon, so there’s probably a much better chance that the project will score Washington than Pitt.  In fact, if the Gaghan and the studio can’t score Pitt their hopeful list includes attracting the likes of Christian Bale, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, or Bradley Cooper, while Jamie Foxx has actively expressed interest in one of the roles. There is also reportedly an offer out to Christoph Waltz for the part “Black Zenga,” though there’s no explanation as to who that is.

Color me curious until we hear more.

Angelina Jolie is just too beautiful and sensual to not run a picture of her at every available opportunity.